Plantation Crops

Manuring in coffee

Nutrition Management
Maintaining optimum pH by liming is essential requirement for nutrition management in coffee. If proper pH is not maintained, the applied fertilizers will not be utilised by the plants effectively.
Soil testing at least once in 2-3 years should be mandatory for lime and fertilizer applications.
Use agricultural lime analysing 80% calcium carbonate. November is the best period for lime application. Application of dolomite lime once in a while in rotation is beneficial.
Application of bulky organic manures like FYM or compost @ 5 tonnes/ha once in two years would improve the soil condition and better utilization of applied fertilizers.
The recommended dose of fertilizers should be applied in three splits (post-blossom, pre-monsoon, post-monsoon) by adopting drip circle method. In slopy areas, the fertilizers should be applied in the upper half of the drip circle.